UPDATE: A 19-year-old Hull teenager, Caitlin Sharpe, suffered multiple injuries in a shocking mountain bike crash on a remote woodland trail. The incident occurred while Caitlin was riding with her father and boyfriend around 27mph, resulting in her crashing face-first into the ground. The story will air tonight on the final episode of Yorkshire Air 999, highlighting the urgent response from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team.
The accident took place earlier today, prompting Caitlin’s father to quickly call 999 while her boyfriend stayed by her side. Paramedics arrived at the scene, where they were alarmed by Caitlin’s reduced level of consciousness. Her Glasgow Coma Scale score was only 11, indicating potential severe head injury.
Stew Ashburner-McManus and Fiona Blaylock, part of the YAA crew, assessed Caitlin’s condition on a narrow trail, approximately five miles from the nearest road. They expressed concern over her limited responsiveness, considering the need for a Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI) to protect her brain from further damage.
As the team prepared for potential emergency procedures, they urgently requested a doctor-led critical care unit from the Nostell Air Base. Fortunately, Dr. James Sen and Paramedic Tom Chatwyn arrived shortly after, assisted by a local groundsman who drove them partway up the woodland track. Upon arrival, they found Caitlin had shown signs of improvement, now able to respond to questions.
Dr. Sen remarked, “Caitlin hadn’t been responding earlier, but by the time we arrived she was able to answer our questions. That improvement was reassuring and showed us that her brain was receiving enough oxygen, meaning we didn’t need to put her to sleep.”
Caitlin sustained serious injuries, including a deep facial laceration, chest abrasions, and suspected spinal damage. The medical teams worked collaboratively to stabilize her condition and manage her pain before airlifting her to James Cook University Hospital in a swift seven-minute flight.
After spending three days in the hospital, scans revealed multiple fractures: her jaw, nose, finger, and a T7 spinal fracture. Despite the gravity of her injuries, Caitlin remains optimistic about returning to mountain biking. “I’m doing much better now and hope to be back on my bike very soon. I’m incredibly grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew and everyone who helped me,” she shared.
Caitlin’s ordeal will be featured on Yorkshire Air 999, airing tonight, November 21, 2023, at 9 PM on Really and discovery+. Stay tuned for this compelling story of resilience and recovery.
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